What is the mtm_consent_removed cookie?
mtm_consent_removed is an HTTP cookie created by Matomo (formerly Piwik), an open-source web analytics platform commonly used as a privacy-friendlier alternative to Google Analytics, available both self-hosted (Matomo On-Premise) and as a cloud service.
The cookie appears on a site when Matomo's built-in consent management feature is enabled and a visitor who was previously being tracked explicitly withdraws their consent. On withdrawal, Matomo removes tracking cookies such as mtm_consent and instead sets mtm_consent_removed to record that this choice was made.
What data it stores
The stored value is typically a timestamp marking when consent was withdrawn. It does not contain a persistent unique tracking identifier and is not used to build behavioral profiles.
The cookie is sent to the domain running the Matomo instance — either the site's own domain, if Matomo is self-hosted on it, or the domain of the Matomo installation or cloud service in use.
What it is used for
Its purpose is purely functional: it tells the Matomo tracking script not to automatically re-enable tracking or recreate analytics cookies (such as _pk_id or mtm_consent) until the visitor gives explicit consent again.
For site owners, this cookie helps enforce the visitor's choice consistently across visits, preventing tracking from silently resuming without agreement.
Does it require consent?
Under CookieFix's classification, mtm_consent_removed falls under necessary (strictly necessary), since it does not track visitor behavior but instead records the opposite — that the visitor declined tracking. Under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive (transposed in Romania via Law 506/2004), cookies strictly necessary to honor a user's expressed choice do not require prior consent.
Site owners should still list this cookie in their cookie policy, along with its purpose, provider (Matomo), and duration, for transparency toward visitors and for documentation compliance.
How to block or delete mtm_consent_removed
A visitor can delete or block this cookie at any time from browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari — per-site cookie management). Deleting it does not resume tracking, but it may cause the opt-out choice to be forgotten on the next visit, in which case Matomo will ask for consent again.
Site owners should still block Matomo's tracking-related cookies until active consent is given, using a CMP such as CookieFix, which automatically stops analytics scripts (including Matomo) until the visitor makes an explicit choice in the banner.
Frequently asked questions
No, since it is strictly necessary to remember the user's tracking opt-out, it does not require prior consent under GDPR/ePrivacy rules.
The next time you visit the site, Matomo will no longer know you opted out and may ask for your consent again.
It has a very long typical lifespan, around 30 years, to preserve the opt-out choice for practically indefinite periods.
Yes, even though it doesn't require consent, strictly necessary cookies must still be disclosed in the cookie policy for transparency.